POSITIVE information about Wellington’s two main employers, a growing new business park on the edge of town, the reduction of HGV traffic in the town centre and Prince Charles’ special interest in the redevelopment of the historic Fox’s Mill site at Tonedale was given at the October meeting of the town council.

The country’s future King was taking a keen interest in the project, said Ian Timms, Taunton Deane Borough Council’s assistant director for business development, who gave a wide- ranging update on current economic matters within the town.

Officers involved in the scheme had been to Clarence House to meet the Prince and officials from the Prince’s Trust to discuss the project. The Prince was keen to see the site, which has been derelict for years, redeveloped. It was hoped there would be funding from his trust fund which has aided similar schemes in the past with substantial contributions.

With the number of homes built at the Longforth Farm residential estate reaching 170, it was hoped that the link through to the Relyon furniture factory would be completed before long, which would relieve the town centre area of HGVs from the factory. It is part of the planning agreement that the link road should be completed once this housing total has been reached.

The firm wanted to stay in Wellington, as did the aerosol company of Swallowfield. Pre-planning application talks had taken place with Swallowfield to discuss the relocation of the company in Wellington and the possible use of its present site for housing, the extension of Relyon and part of a northern relief road. It was a complicated matter.

Referring to the possible re-opening of the railway station, which closed in the 1960s, Mr Timms said it had passed the first hurdle, the catchment test – the area it would serve, which was not just the town but also the surrounding villages. A team was working on a business analysis and viability test but he warned it would take some time.

Town councillors again agreed to strongly support the re-opening of the station.

The new Westpark business estate at Chelston on the outskirts of the town was going well with new companies coming in, he said.

As part of an investment programme, the Deane was aiming to have a wi-fi centre available in Wellington by Christmas, he said.

Asked about the continuing pigeon mess in Cornhill, Mr Timms said there had been problems dealing with the owners who did not live in this country but it was hoped that Wetherspoon’s proposed redevelopment of the adjacent Town Hall would speed up the process.